OrangeSmile Tours
World most extreme places

Tower of London, Great Britain

From series “Famous prisons of the world”
Year: 11 century.

The famous Tower of London is one of the most popular and recognizable landmarks in the UK. This beautiful fortress was built in the 11th century. It has changed many statuses over the years. It was the royal residence and then used for the defense of the city. Subsequently, the fortress was converted into an arsenal. The prison was opened in it then. The very first prisoners were imprisoned in it at the end of the 12th century. Representatives of the royal families, as well as many other notable persons, were imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Tower of London, Great Britain The old castle was used as a prison until the mid-20th century. Many famous gangsters, as well as the Kray twins, served their sentences here. Initially, the prison was used to hold only high-ranking officials. The kings of France and Scotland were among its earliest prisoners. Some cells held Kings James I of Scotland, as well as Charles of Orleans, in the castle even today.

Many priests were imprisoned in the fortress in the 12th-13th centuries. Representatives of the aristocracy, whom the authorities suspected of treason, also served their sentences here at this time. Many high-profile executions took place within the walls of the Tower of London. It was here that Henry VI was executed, as well as many of the Tower princes. Perhaps the execution of Prince Edward V was one of the most high-profile events in the history of the fortress-prison. He was only 12 years old at the time of his execution. There were many terrible legends about the prison in the Middle Ages. Most of them concerned about the torture carried out in it.

German spies were kept in prison during the First World War. Official data from this period show 11 German prisoners shot. But according to unofficial data, their number was ten times higher. The fortress was also used to hold prisoners of war during the Second World War. Quite famous people were among them. The captured Rudolf Hess was held in the Tower of London during the war. The Tower of London is open for guided tours today. The historical museum and armory occupy part of the ancient fortress today. One of the most famous prisons in the world regained the status of a royal residence in the second half of the 20th century. Next - Abu Ghraib Prison


Prison on Alcatraz, USA Prison on Alcatraz, USA
  Prison on Alcatraz, USA   Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq  
Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq

Tower of London - interactive map

Useful staff nearby

ATM bankomat: 'Cash Machine Tesco' located in 0.3 km ( check the route on the map).
Car rental office: 'Budget Car Hire London Tower Bridge' is located in 0.32 km ( on the map).
Fuel station: 'Petro Trading & Supply LLP' in 0.42 km
Supermarket: 'Tesco Express' in 0.32 km
Parking: 'Tower Hill Pedestrian Entrance' in 0.09 km
Apotheek: 'Superdrug' in 0.39 km
Police station: 'British Transport Police' in 1.08 km
Cafe/restaurant: 'Ross' in 0.07 km
Railway station: 'London Fenchurch Street' in 0.38 km

Nearest airports:
 »  London City Airport LCY - in 8 km
 »  London Biggin Hill Airport BQH - in 20 km
 »  Northolt Airport NHT - in 23 km
 »  Heathrow Airport LHR - in 24 km
 »  Gatwick Airport LGW - in 39 km
 Cities nearby

Best hotels near Tower of London

Tower Hill Serviced Apartments

Located in 0 km from Tower of London
Route on the map:
Rooms: 6
A range of restaurants, bars and coffee houses can be reached in minutes on foot. London's main attractions are easily accessible on the Underground. … More: photo, rates and booking
YHA London St Paul's

Located in 1 km from Tower of London
Route on the map:
Rooms: 49
The majority of rooms at this YHA hostel contain bunk beds, and all rooms share bathroom facilities. A library, TV lounge and games room are … More: photo, rates and booking
"FRESH @ The Steam Engine, Waterloo"

Located in 2 km from Tower of London
Route on the map:
Rooms: 4
FRESH @ The Steam Engine, Waterloo offers a selection of mixed dorm rooms in 9 or 12 bed configurations. All rooms include a free security locker. … More: photo, rates and booking
West End Apartments

Located in 3 km from Tower of London
Route on the map:
Rooms: 3
Each West End Apartment studio and apartment has modern décor with wooden floors and colourful finishes. There is a living area with a sofa, and … More: photo, rates and booking

Nearest unique sightseeing spots to visit

St Mary Axe
0 km - St Mary Axe
On one of the vibrant streets in London has placed a great St Mary Axe skyscraper. It attracts a lot of views because of its marvellous glass façade. This 41-storey skyscraper was built in 2003. Nine-tenths rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. The main part of the …
Mirror WC
1 km - Mirror WC
On the streets of London, not far from the gallery of the contemporary art of Tate, one can still notice a strange 'mirror toilet'. This is a small cabin, which is lined with glass panels from outside and ideally fits the urban landscape. The author of the …
Westminster Abbey
3 km - Westminster Abbey
The Cathedral Church of St. Peter is a striking example of the Gothic style in architecture. It is located in Westminster. According to historical data, a small church was located on the site of the abbey in the 11th century. Henry III ordered the construction of a new …
St Pancras International
4 km - St Pancras International
St Pancras International is quite interesting historical railway station in London. It was opened in 1868 in a neo-gothic building made from red bricks. In the late 20th century the railway station was rebuilt at a cost of £800 million. After the reconstruction the …
Cadogan Hall
5 km - Cadogan Hall
You can visit many concert halls in London. But Cadogan Hall is considered one of the most unusual and interesting. It is located next to a beautiful public garden in the Chelsea area. A wealthy art connoisseur named Mohammed Al Fayed is the founder of the concert …
Royal Greenwich Observatory
6 km - Royal Greenwich Observatory
A visit to the Royal Greenwich Observatory in London promises to be memorable. The sight is located on the territory of one of the most amazing and unusual viewing areas of the British capital. The Observatory is located high on a hill, so its observation deck offers a …

Top destination around Tower of London - London

One of the most prestigious designer hotels in London, Rosewood London is open in a luxurious historical building on High Holborn Street. All guest rooms have an individual design, even the furniture in these rooms is made by individual order. All rooms are mostly made in classic shades and look very aristocratic with round wooden tables, premium leather armchairs, and bathrooms with décor made of Italian marble. Large panoramic windows are another peculiarity of the rooms, and, thanks to numerous lamps, there will be no difficulty in adjusting lighting in accordance with one’s taste.

Fans of designer luxury are also recommended to take a look at the high-class Radisson Blu Edwardian, Bloomsbury Street . Its guest rooms are made in different color combinations and feature premium furniture with velvet upholstery. Creative round shaped lamps and small vases with flowers help to create a charming atmosphere. Each guest room has a luxurious bathroom with Sicilian marble décor. Other advantages of the hotel include a modern spa salon where guests are invited to enjoy massage and reflex therapy sessions.
Read further...


OrangeSmile.com - online travel reservation expert providing reliable car rental and hotel booking services. We feature more than 25.000 destinations with 12.000 rental offices and 200.000 hotels worldwide.
Secure Server
OrangeSmile B.V. - Hotel Booking Worldwide
Head office: Weegschaalstraat 3 Eindhoven, 5632 CW Netherlands
+31 40 40 150 44


Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About us
Copyright © 2002 - OrangeSmile Tours B.V. | OrangeSmile.com | Under the direction and management of IVRA Holding B.V. - Registered at Kamer van Koophandel (KvK), The Netherlands No. 17237018